NFL
By: Steve Rogers
Through the first six weeks of the 2023 NFL season the Minnesota Vikings have looked nothing like last year’s squad that was 5-1 this time last year. Or, maybe they have just the results haven’t been the same. They’re still playing all one-score games but are ending up on the losing side of this year. Last year the Vikings were plus seven on the turnover ratio. The Vikings are minus two in the take/give through just the first six weeks this year.
Turnovers have been absolutely the Achilles heel of this Vikings season. Specifically fumbles the Vikings can’t seem to remember rule number one hold onto the ball!! However, the Viking’s defense got a pair of takeaways of their own last week against the Bears. The first was a scoop and score fumble recovery by linebacker Jordan Hicks and the other was a game-sealing interception by cornerback Byron Murphy.
Up next is easily the biggest test/challenge the Vikings will face all year. The San Fransico 49ers come to US Bank Stadium for another primetime Monday night football game as this is the second of five 7 p.m. start times for the Vikings this year. The 49ers are clearly one of the top three teams in the NFC. Even the best teams are still beatable and the Cleveland Browns proved that last week as they beat the previously undefeated 49ers.
So, now Brian Flores has a blueprint of game tape to be able to use to put together his own defense to slow down this explosive 49ers offense. I don’t think this is a game I would be taking the over. As the line is currently 49ers by a touchdown. Most believe this is a blowout game I would not be so sure. I’m still giving the 49ers the win but I’m cautiously taking the under as this could be a three to five-point game.
This is where it gets rather interesting after this week the Vikings don’t face another team with a winning record for the next six to seven weeks, if you include the current 3-3 Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 17. First will be the second NFC North division game against the Green Bay Packers. AKA the Border Battle. The Packers are going through their own struggles as they are 2-3 with Jordan Love as the first-year starter at quarterback. The often injured offensive lineman, David Bakhtiari is once again on injured reserve.
The Vikings can certainly go into Lambeau and come away with a victory. The Vikings will hit the road for a second week in a row and head down south to Atlanta to face the Falcons. The Falcons are a very young team led by a second-year quarterback with a bunch of weapons on offense they haven’t figured out how to use or put together with chemistry yet, so they’re still figuring it out. The Vikings are much further along and should be able to win this game as well. Another issue for the Vikings has been the inability to win at home. Thus far this year that might change when they get to host the New Orleans Saints a team with which the Vikings have a rich history over the years. This can almost feel like a division battle, but I believe this will be the first win for the Vikings at home. This also might be the first game of the return of Justin Jefferson.
If the Vikings can manage to go 3-0 against those 500 teams and get Justin Jefferson back then there’s no reason they can’t go on another three-game winning streak with Jefferson back as the number one wide receiver. Why is it so easy to think so? Those next three opponents are at the Denver Broncos, home against the Chicago Bears, and back out west to face the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings can jump back into at least wild card contention at 8- 5. The last four games of the year will be huge as three are NFC North division games.
First, the Vikings have to go to Cincinnati and try to come away with a win. The Vikings will end their season with three consecutive NFC North battles. Two will be at home one against the Packers who will most likely be trying to play spoilers. The other is against the current division-leading Detroit Lions. These two games against the Lions could decide who wins the division, as the Vikings and Lions are the best two teams in the division this year. If the Vikings can sneak past the Lions at home then the Division will come down to the last game of the year in Detriot. Imagine that the Vikings can win the division while only winning 11 games! The Vikings season is far from over as most will be ready to say after the 49ers game. I say “You must have patience young grasshopper”. The Vikings can not only make the playoffs but they can still steal this NFC North crown.
